In reply to Commander Collette DesMarais (msg # 116):

Thelev takes a deep breath and starts by "Dr. Smith, we need jump coordinates ideally in Federation space with two criteria, the IKS K'Tanko will feel safe and will have no issue departing if they wish based on my or the Commodore's leave.  They have been more than helpful in this situation and I don't want to lose any good well we have built with them.  And second we must be able to contain everybody else. At a minimum none of the other ships seem to be from our part of this galaxy and some are not even from our temporal space so we can't let them wander off and there is far too many for us to control by ourselves."

"Commodore may I suggest we draft an agreement that everyone needs to sign, I don't think at the very end we will force them to sign but we should request they still put in our galaxy and must abide by the Federation rules until we can safely return them home. In turn we will need to say we will try to return them home or identify a new home for them if we are unable to return them to their space and time." Thelev sighs "Not looking forward to being a taxi service for the next month or so."

"Captain MacCay, I would like to ask you to be the go between any of the ship Captains who either wish to come aboard or wish to stay on their on ships and my bridge crew and myself. I suggest you enlist Dame Flavia Domitia any other captain you feel can help to aid you." he requests. As he taps a few buttons "You can use my Ready Room."

Commander Thoma "Please inform Dame Flavia Domitia that she can beam aboard, I will greet her in my Ready Room and have her work with Captain MacCay."

Leaving Curator Purple to the Commodore to deal with he then says "Commander Thoma, please open up a channel to all ships. Both audio and visual." once he receives confirmation back he will say "Attention all fellow captains and ships, this is Captain Thelev of the USS Odyssey, as it appears may of you have heard we will be attempting to leave this mini-universe prior to its collapse and we are planning on taking everyone with us.  But I must ask you to allow us to coordinate with everyone to take the maximum number of ships with us and to take everyone with us.  Our intent is to leave no one who wishes to come with us behind.  We will be meeting shortly with all the captains to finalize the details.  But I ask you to allow us to identify the parking orbits around our ship.  There is an old earth training course which identified you need to put the big rocks which is in this case are the bigger ships in place first and then you progressively fill the gaps with the smaller ships. We still have time so lets work together to be successful."

As Thelev and the others leave, Thoma puts Purple through to Brad. He wastes no time, "I, Curator as a color, shade of purple-grey, on behalf of the Council of Captains, under the emergency measures clause of the Charter of Captains, do so stipulate all the conditions Captain Thelev has just announced. In addition, Hilliard and I would like to visit your ship to finalise everything."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

MacCay and Thelev move to the Captain's Ready Room. It is a mirror image of Brad's Flag Ready Room, as personalised to Thelev's tastes.

Dame Flavia and Captain Syrene are waiting for them, seated together on the sofa. They appear to be good friends and are talking as the two Starfleet captains enter.

"We work well as a team," says Raven Syrene, "And have a fair amount of influence on the Council, so we thought we'd coordinate from here. Both our ships are manœuvring under the supervision of your Navigator. Alistair had assured us that women are taken seriously in your and we're impressed that so many of your senior officers are female. We just listened to your list of conditions. The Curator is even now talking to your commodore, but—"

"—to say it briefly, we accept. Raven does like to listen to her own voice sometimes. Not as bad as Herr Kapitan Karl-Freidrich, but still. Anyway, how can we help?" asks Flavia, bluntly.

Smith turns to Khendron, "Well, now that the high brass is safely occupied, shall we head down to Engineering to talk to the people who really run the ship?" He looks at Cdr Manyard, "After you, Commander."

The deck 001 turbolift is only two steps starboard of the ready room door and swiftly drops them off at Main Engineering.

Niles Rutherford is busy realigning the crystal articulation frame. Sweat beads on his forehead, but his hands are steady. He looks at Manyard and quips, "Hey, Chief. How's the noggin?" He's at least 25 years younger than his superior, but they have an easy friendship.

Smith steps forward, "How's the Ball holding?"

Niles says, "Purring like a kitten. I've got a pair of techs babysitting it."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

In reply to Captain Alistair MacCay (msg # 119):

Once in his ready room Thelev standing sits on the corner of his desk.  And checks if HoD Kang wants to be patched in. Once Kang accepts or declines Thelev starts.

“ Captains if it is okay with all of you I will dispense with titles or ranks. This ship is equipped with an experimental drive which allows us to jump to a specific locations in the 26 dimensions.   Dr. Smith is one of the leading expert in the field and several of my crew including my self are well versed in the field.   We have never tried to move this much mass before, which in theory should make no difference.  The bigger unknown is if this micro universe follows the traditional theories of space and time.  If it does not we may all be stuck here.”

He waits a moment for that statement to sink in, “Where I need Raven, Flavia and Alistair to help is several fold.  I do not know how long all of you have been here, but it is longer than us. First are there any captains out here that will be a problem, and if so what is the best way to deal with them.  Are there any we need to keep an eye on when we getting back to my time and space until we can get them home. And finally Raven and Flavia, I am sure you have scanned all the ships here.  This jump will put some stress on the super structure of everyone’s ship.  Are there any ships you would have a concern about. That we need to confirm they will survive the jump and if necessary have the difficult discussion with them. “

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 121):

Confident that the silver ball is in good hands, Khendron turns his attention to the engineer who reported the dilithium disintegration. "How is our dilithium supply? Any theories on what happened to the last crystal" he asks.

Rutherford sighs, "It's like nothing I've ever seen before, sir. Usually the crystals either crack, shatter or spall. These ones, well, simply powdered. It took several minutes to clear all the micro-crystalline powder out of the M/ARA. Actually had to requisition a life support vacuum filter from supply and do double scans with a tricorder to decontaminate the chamber—pretty sure I got it all out, though. Now that we have the new crystals in situ, I guess we'll find out, eh?"

He straightens up and puffs out his cheeks. "'Join Starfleet,' they said. 'Explore strange new worlds,' they said. Seek out new life and new civilisations,' they said. 'Risk your ass when the shit hits the fan,' they forgot to mention."

Kang agrees to sit in on the meeting with Thelev and beams over. "It would be good to have my friend Curzon Dax here. He could talk an Orion banker out of his mother's dowry," he mutters when brought up to speed on the plans. "How certain are you that this QujmeH moQ SIrlIy [silver ball] can transport all javmaH [sixty] ships at one time? Two or three, I've observed, but sixty? It beggars the mind!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

Just as the door closes behind Smith and Mercer, the chime sounds, "Commodore, it's Dr. Marcus. May Sam and I come in?"

Before Brad has a chance to answer, there is a change in air pressure as Purple and Hilliard teleport into the Ready Room. Hilliard gives out a surprisingly gentle "Wuff!"

Purple turns to the big dog-like alien and replies, "Yes, Hilliard, I know that most humanoids don't like people just 'porting into their private spaces, but this is an emergency. In compliance to your conditions, I present to you, Commodore, your first decision. What shall we do with... these?"
He snaps his fingers and Kapitan Hieronymous appears on the couch moaning, "Oh, the pain, the agony!" [Picture Zachary Smith from the original Lost in Space emoting over-dramatically.]

Captain Yehonanan Ahab stands beside the couch. He raises an eyebrow and glares at Purple, "This is not my doing. The Crucio does not exist—it's a made-up story told to recalcitrant children by their elders to chastise them. I certainly didn't expect it to have this effect on the fool, though I'm not surprised."

Hieronymous opens one eye in mid moan and gasps, "Made up? Not real? The pain is real! I'm in sheer agony!" He sits up belying his claims of being in pain.

The door swooshes open. Carol cries out, "I heard someone in pain! is everyone al—" she cuts off in mid-question upon seeing the gigantic purple sheepdog. Sam, still appearing to be a sexagenarian, crowds in behind her.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Tue 09 Mar 2021.

In reply to HoD Kang, Son of K'naiah (msg # 124):

"To be honest, we do not know for sure how many ships we can jump, but the theory behind the shiny sphere as you call it, is that we are jumping everything within the area that the device can generate. Which should not be affected by the number of ships within the sphere. In Theory" Thelev replies to Kang.

"Before we work on how to fit all these ships into the envelop of the device I am more concerned if all these ships can survive the jump. There is some stress put on all the ships that I am sure Kang can comment on having been through the process several times already. And that is where my true concern is, yes all of these ships are spacefaring but I do not know what condition they are in or if they will survive the jump.  That I am counting on Raven, Flavia and Alistair to help identify."

"Thoughts?"

"As much as it pains me to admit it, I've discussed this with my cha'DIch la' Mara and she understands this far better than I. She's looked over the data you've shared and she confirms your conclusions. Therefore I must reluctantly accede to your theory and support your proposition," stated Kang.

Dame Flavia nods and agrees, "As must I. To answer your question, the ship I have most worries about is the Gloriana. Although her fop of a captain prides himself on discipline, it's mostly centred upon correct methods of toadying to superiors and observance of minutiae rather than competence. I recommend a complete sensor scan and inspection."

Raven says, "Agreed. Hieronymous would never pass a board of review in Her Imperial Majesty's Fleets. His ship would be sent to the breakers."

In reply to HoD Kang, Son of K'naiah (msg # 127):

"Okay then if that is the only ship I will talk to Kapitan Hieronymus and suggest that he has all his crew transfer to other ship.  Do any of you know if his ship has a complete structural failure and it cascades into its propulsion system how the propulsion system will fail.  Really want to know what the risk would be in taking the ship with us and at least attempt to bring it along." Thelev replies.

"The second thing I would like you to manage the other ships we will break it into 3 groups of ships.  You can break each of your groups into sub groups as you feel appropriate and you can manage.  I will then communicate directly with your ships and work with Hieronymus to remotely control his ship. Then I can take it upon myself to see if I have to abandon or if it is at risk of blowing up destroy it before it can damage any of the other ships." Thelev adds.

In reply to Carol Marcus, PhD (msg # 125):

“Curator Purple, please explain the situation more thoroughly.  I’m notmsure I understand”.  McCurrvey tries to decide if medical intervention is warranted.

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 129):

Khendron assigns a junior engineer to continuously monitor the dilithium in service. "Your only job," he says to the engineer, "is to keep your eyes on that crystal, and if it so much as hiccups we want to know about it!"

Khendron then sends a message up to the Captain's Ready Room, "We are ready to go and on stand-by down here. I am a little worried about the stability of our dilithium, having recently had an unexplained ... disintegration. How are the logistics negotiations going up there?"

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 129):

"In manœuvring, Kapitan Hieronymous's HMS Gloriana glancingly impacted Captain Ahab's Spelljammer Pequod, causing only minor damage to one of the Pequod's sails. Ahab threatened to cast the Cruciatus Curse on Sir Karl-Friedrich, whereupon he collapsed crying out in pain. Ahab maintains that there is no such curse in actuality and that Hieronymous simply fell prey to a psychosomatic attack." explains Purple.

"Indeed, as I told ye, the Crucio is but a fiction used against misbehaving children or by priests to put the fear of the gods into the impious!" thunders Ahab.

"You used black magic upon me, you foul sorcerer—may you burn in hell!" Hieronymous screeches, shaking his fist at the other captain.

Carol peers at Hieronymous. "You don't seem to have suffered any injury, sir."

His face burning red, he mutters, "I assure you, my good lady, the pain was most excruciating." He seems on the verge of sulking.

Brad has dealt with many Starfleet officers before and has never dealt with a starship captain so ineffectual. He has his doubts that the pompous git before him is qualified to run anything more than a moon-shuttle. Ahab seems an overly stern taskmaster but head and shoulders above Hieronymous in competence.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 130):

Rutherford snaps to attention. "Yessir!" he replies.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 128):

"In a place without time, most of the captains have kept their crews busy tending to maintenance, so even the Gloriana is as ship-shape as it is likely to ever be, at least under its current command. Her Exec, First Leftenant Bryce Fitzgerald, is in his soul an able seaman, so Dame Flavia's estimation of her spaceworthiness is perhaps overly harsh. The morale of her crew, however, is below standards." Syrene's speech has a dryly humorous edge to it.

Flavia says, "Overly harsh? I'll admit that Fitzgerald has saved the Gloriana from sheer decrepitude, but I wouldn't trust that ship with any important mission."

The intership sounds, and Mercer reports on the situation in Engineering.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

Chief Engineer Manyard oversees the inspection of the Gloriana. It actually passes inspection, though barely. Manyard okays its inclusion in the fleet, though only if it is commanded by its XO, First Leftenant Bryce Fitzgerald and to that end suggests Dr. Driveon restrict Hieronymous to sickbay for observation.

Dr. Driveon arrives at the Flag Ready Room and examines Heironymous. Brad has been getting nowhere and heaves a sigh of relief when the doctor takes Ahab aside and speaks to him out of the Kapitan's hearing. Returning, he says to Hieronymous, "I'm not a believer in magic, but sometimes psionics are used to simulate it. I've seen Vulcans do some amazing things. In my opinion, you may very well have been the victim of a psionic attack and I'd like to have Nurse Parducci run a full exam."

Hieronymous goes white and responds, "Attack! Yes, that's it he attacked me psionically, or magically! Ahh, the pain, the agony! Is there any chance it's fatal? Commodore, I want this wizard charged with attempted murder! I claim sanctuary!" He grabs Brad's sleeve and cowers behind him, trembling. Parducci and Goldberg arrive to take him down to sickbay.

Purple applauds, "Bravo, Commodore! I see I judged you and your able crew well." He turns to Ahab. "And you, Yehonathon, I'm mightily disappointed with you. Fortunately, your bluff worked."

Ahab says, "'Strewth, I was mightily tempted to actually cast the Crucio, but when I perceived the varlet behaving as though I had done so, I saw there was no need."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

It has been a non-stop eighteen hours when Thoma finally announces, "Commodore, Captain and XO to the bridge. All ships report ready and the tractor web has been engaged. Engineer reports we've switched to battery power and dilithium articulation frame retracted from the M/ARA.

"Engineering reports ready.

"Tactical reports ready.

"Helm reports ready.

"Navigation reports ready.

"Medical reports ready.

"Dr. Smith reports jump capacitors at full charge and is ready to input coordinates on command.

"All ships are at Red Alert. All hands secure for Blue Alert!"

The tension is palpable as Brad, Thelev and Khendron meet in the turbolift en route to the bridge. The doors open to admit them. Sam, Cdr Harris, Dr. Marcus and Curator Purple await them. Thelev takes the centre seat.

Cdr Harris steps forward. "Commodore, have you made a final decision? DS-6A or Neptune?"

Smith looks over from the Silver Ball console. "I recommend DS-6A, sir. Simulations continue to predict a 17.5% edge going through the Hole."

Carol notes from her position beside the Navigation console, "I concur."

Collette turns in her chair to face Brad and says, "Concur."

Ramirez at Tactical says, "Shields up, all weapons on standby. Tactical net engaged with K'Tanko, Hesperus and Indomitable."

Smith asks, "Give the command, sir."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Sun 14 Mar 2021.

In reply to Commander Thoma (msg # 135):

Once McCurrvey confirms final destination Thelev says "Thoma, open a channel to all ships."

Once open "All ship prepare to jump in T-minus 20 seconds."

"Dr. Smith jump on the mark."

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 136):

Smith responds, "Aye aye Captain, jump in twenty seconds," and begins the countdown.

As he reaches ten, the deck heaves violently. The lights do not even flicker as Manyard maintains fusion battery power, and the artificial gravity barely hiccups. "Ball capacitors holding charge," snaps Smith. Khendron, at the Science console, notes that another Lazarus Event has occurred and the entire microverse will collapse in sixty seconds..

Thoma triggers the IFoF [Identify: Friend or Foe] transponder and puts out a fleetwide message, "All ships maintain your stations. Jump in five... four... three... two... one... MA—discontinuity—RK!"...

... and the "rag tag fleet" is suddenly elsewhere!

Thoma calls out, "Receiving Starfleet hail!"

Collette notes, "Logging stellar coordinates! Federation Beacon located!"

Manyard reports, "Engineering: articulation Frame in place! Energisers in five seconds..."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Mon 15 Mar 2021.

DS-6

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 138):

"USS Odyssey, this is LCdr Grissom, XO of Bridgetown Station. Welcome back. Status report, please. Is Cdr Harris with you?"  Grissom is an auburn-haired Human in his late thirties, and there is an underlying nervous edge to his voice. "Please identify the ships with you, aside from the IKS K'Tanko. And is Sam with you? Things are going to hell downside!"

A second voice, this one familiar, is added to the conversation, "This is Capt David Bowman of the USS Excalibur. Well, Thelev, it looks like we've traded ships. I'm still coming up to speed on the new drive system. We have your new Intelligence Officer aboard, ready to transfer. He's a LCdr Boren." Brad's ears prick up at the mention of Boren's name.

Matt Bowman, standing behing Khendron at the Science station, looks up at his father's voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

In reply to Lieutenant Commander Virgil Grissom (msg # 139):

"Commander Thoma," Khendron says, "Please hail our rag-tag fleet and confirm their status. Remind them that all ships are to stand by and await our instructions. No winging off in all directions!"

"Tactical," he continues. "Scan for the fleet. Did we all make it, and do any appear to be in distress?"

Thoma replies, "Aye aye sir!" Switching to the agreed fleet channel, she relays, "All ships, this is Odyssey! report your status! Maintain stations and do not power up weapons. This area is a protectorate of the United Federation of Planets and the starships approaching are Federation Starfleet. You are ordered to stand by and await instructions."

She listens intently as status reports flood in. Several minutes later she reports, "We have several  dozen minor injuries due to loss of artificial gravity and a few plasma burns from exploding consoles. One hull breech, atmospheric leak contained. A number of power outages. We are dispatching emergency relief teams."

Smith pipes in with "Silver Ball has sustained overload damage and will be out of order until rebuilt. Luckily, Excalibur is equipped with the latest model since its post operational refit. Seems we've been gone for six months due to discrepancies in the temporal flow."

Manyard reports, "New crystals in place and energisers at full efficiency! Tactical, you have full phaser power..."

Dame Flavia nods to Brad and remarks, "Your claims about Starfleet seem to have been proven."

Raven agree, "Most impressive."

Story continues in the thread Homecoming.